Day Three. Dawn.

After the mages disappeared from view, I crouched outside the door to the alchemist’s shop and knocked. In the distance, I could hear the four roving the streets and calling out to other players.

I knew Ishita’s sworn and I were not done yet, and the next time we met, I would likely not have the safe zone to protect me. When the time came, I would have to be ready to face them. Raising my hand to the door, I knocked impatiently again. “Where is he?” I muttered.

I wasn’t left wondering long.

My keen hearing picked out the patter of light feet approach the door, and a second later, it was yanked back.

You are no longer hidden.

A piercing gaze found mine, having no trouble picking me out in the darkness. “What?” the gnome snapped.

I blinked. Taken aback by the abruptness of the shopkeeper’s greeting, I took a moment to study him before replying.

Gelar was short, and even with me crouched down, we were at eye level. The gnome had a shock of red hair and wore thin gold-rimmed spectacles. His clothes were rumpled as if he’d slept in them, and his fingers were stained.

“I’m here about the bounty,” I said at last.

Gelar’s eyes flicked beyond me. He must’ve heard the mages’ cries already and likely guessed I was the one they searched for. “Get in,” he said abruptly, stepping aside to let me through.

I didn’t argue and darted through the door. In contrast to the alchemist’s own appearance, the shop was immaculate. A long table was set along the back wall, and various ingredients were stacked on it, all neatly labeled. The left wall was covered with shelves stretching from floor to ceiling and stacked with ceramic and glass jars.

On the right was what was clearly a workspace. It contained a series of tables laid out with the alchemists’ tools of the trade: test tubes, a mortar and pestle, burners, and oversized glass bottles.

The shop’s center was the only area free of any sign of the alchemist’s craft. Striding towards the two large couches positioned there, Gelar sat himself down on one and pulled out a pipe. “Explain yourself,” he said laconically.

While the gnome fiddled with his pipe, I sat on the opposite couch and analyzed him.

The target is Gelar, a gnomish player. He bears a Greater Mark of Dark.

The alchemist possessed only a single Mark and was surprisingly steeped in the Dark. How does a civilian manage to become so deeply ingrained by a Force? I wondered.

“If you’re quite done analyzing me yet,” Gelar said, not looking up, “answer the question.” He finished lighting his pipe and met my gaze. “Or I will throw you out.”

I pursed my lips, wondering if I’d made a mistake by coming here. On first impression, the gnome was unaffable and humorless. Still, I’d come this far, and I had little more to lose by going on. “It’s like I said. I’m here for the bounty.”

Gelar grunted. “And what makes you think I want, or even need help from the likes of you?”

I raised an eyebrow in polite disbelief at his air of disinterest. He’d let me in after all. “Because I’m guessing none of the other players in this sector have managed the task yet.”

Closing his eyes, Gelar leaned back in his chair and took a long, deep pull from his pipe. “You think you can succeed where they have failed?”

“I do.” I didn’t know any such thing, of course, but this was not the time for expressing doubts.

The gnome puffed out three perfect circles. “How?”

“I have an unusual Class—” I began.

“Your psi will help you naught against the wyvern,” the alchemist said, cutting me off. “The bitch will be immune to your mind tricks.”

“I know,” I said, even as I wondered how the shopkeeper knew I possessed psi.

My response seemed to give Gelar pause. “You do?”

I nodded. “I’ve run across her hatchling already.” Deciding to stretch the truth a bit, I added, “and killed it.”

The gnome’s eyes snapped open to scrutinize me. “You lie,” he said mildly.

I shook my head. “I don’t.”

Gelar’s eyes narrowed. “Where are your scars? If you’d been in a fight with a wyvern—even a babe—you would not have walked away unscathed.”

I shook my head ruefully. ‘I didn’t.” Reaching into my potion belt, I removed my last full healing flask and held it up. “I bear no wounds because of these.”

Gelar leaned forward and intently studied the item in my hand before grunting dismissively. “Bah, that would not have stopped—”

“—the wyvern’s toxins from killing me,” I finished for him. “I know. I also have other resources at my disposal,” I said, not elaborating.

The gnome sat back and, drumming his fingers on the side of his chair, considered me. “Even assuming I believe you,” he said at last, “you are too low-leveled to tackle the wyvern mother.”

I smiled. “I might surprise you. And besides, what do you have to lose?”

Unexpectedly, Gelar chuckled. “A good point. Very well, I accept. You have my permission to attempt the bounty.” Reaching into his chest, the alchemist withdrew a piece of paper and handed it over to me.

I took it curiously, not sure of its purpose.

“Shut the door on your way out,” the gnome said. Seeming to consider our business concluded, he rose to his feet and ambled over to his work table.

Not moving from my seat, I scanned the slip of parchment Gelar had handed me.

You have acquired a bounty authorization letter. This bounty is for the death of the wyvern-mother, a level 198 beast in sector 12,560. This bounty has been registered with the bounty hunters guild and the bearer of this letter is an authorised agent of the bounty holder, Gelar.

Proof of death can be provided directly to the holder or any guild office, and payment is guaranteed by the guild. This bounty claim is open to both guild members and non-members.

The Adjudicator has allocated you a new task: An Alchemist’s Bounty!

The alchemist, Gelar has granted you permission to hunt down the wyvern-mother. Objective: Kill the Level 198 wyvern in sector 12,560.

Folding away the letter, I placed it in my pocket. It had scant details of the beast other than its level – which was scary enough admittedly and while I found mention of the bounty hunter guild intriguing, it was not a matter I wanted to pursue just yet. “Why do you want the wyvern dead?” I asked slowly.

“That’s no concern of yours,” Gelar said, not turning around. I thought I detected a hint of tightness in his voice though.

I looked around the room. “Is it for the ingredients?”

“No,” the alchemist replied curtly. “But now that you mention it, those will be useful.” He turned around, eyeing me. “Do you have the poisoning skill.”

I shook my head.

“Pity,” he said, sounding disappointed. “You could have extracted the wyvern’s toxins then. It would have made for a nice bonus.”

I pursed my lips. “How much does it sell for?”

“Wyvern toxin?”

I nodded.

“Depending on the purity and the amount you manage to extract, anywhere between 10 and 20 gold.”

I whistled appreciatively. “Why so much?”

“It’s a versatile substance and a key ingredient in many elixirs including some powerful antitoxins, and as you know already, in its natural form it makes for a virulent toxin.”

I couldn’t argue with that. “Is there any other way to extract the venom?”

“You could try extracting it without the skill I suppose, but that would prove challenging and could prove fatal. Or...” He eyed me doubtfully.

“Or?” I prompted.

“Or you could use an alchemy stone. It is a magical device experienced hunters use to harvest alchemy ingredients when no alchemist is available.”

My eyes lit up. That sounded like just what I needed. “Do you have one?”

Gelar nodded. “I do.” He paused. “But it’s expensive.”

“How much?”

“Fifty gold.”

I winced at the cost. That was more than any single item I possessed.

Gelar sighed. “I can see from your expression that it is more than you can afford. Now if you can stop disturbing me, and let me get—”

“I don’t have the money,” I said, cutting him off, “but I may have something of equal value to trade.”

The gnome eyed me curiously. “What?”

I hesitated. I only had two items that were possibly of comparable value... spider’s bite and the blood siphon master Class stone. I was loath to part with either, but without access to a bank, I knew I would have to part with something.

But which?

The stone, I decided. Spider’s bite’s value was more than monetary at the moment. It was my best weapon, and irreplaceable, especially if I planned on farming the forest for alchemy ingredients. The blood siphon Class stone, on the other hand, was a stone I still had no intention of using.

Removing the Class stone from my pocket , I placed it on the table next to the gnome. The blood siphon Class contained two master skills—leech and life resistance—which I knew from the purchase of my own deception skill had to be worth at least twenty gold each, and perhaps even more to some Dark players.

Gelar examined the item closely. “It’s not enough,” he pronounced a moment later.

I deflated.

“But,” he allowed, “it’s close enough.” He held out a hand. “We have a deal, human.”

~~~

A few minutes later, Gelar held out a non-descript green cube for my inspection. It was no larger than the palm of my hand and seemed to have been cut from a greenish stone. “That’s an alchemy stone?” I asked skeptically.

“Take it,” Gelar said.

Reaching out, I did as he bade.

You have acquired a small alchemy stone. This item contains an enchantment used to extract and store common, uncommon, and rare alchemical ingredients from slain creatures. This item only works on animal lifeforms and cannot be used to obtain materials from plant life.

The enchantment can be replenished with mana. Currently stored ingredients: 0 / 150.

“The stone’s capacity is small, and it is limited in what ingredients it can harvest,” Gelar said, confirming what I’d just learned, “but for a player of your level it will more than suffice.”

“How do I use it?” I asked.

“You only need place it on a dead beast, and the stone will collect what it can. It will harvest less than an alchemist is capable of and it will not work on plant life, so don’t try,” he warned. “Even my apprentice—”

He broke off and a look of fleeting pain crossed his face too quick for me to be certain I’d seen it.

Unsure what the look boded, I simply nodded.

“Ingredients stored in the stone will last indefinitely, so there is no need to hurry back,” Gelar went on, his face smooth and unruffled once more. “As for extracting the stored substances, any alchemist should be able to do that.”

“Thank you,” I said, hoping I’d chosen wisely in buying the stone.

“Now, if there is nothing else?” Gelar asked in what was clearly a dismissal.

“One last thing,” I said, holding out the bounty letter. The gnome must know who I was, yet he still felt comfortable dealing with me. I had to know why. “Are you not afraid of running afoul of Ishita’s sworn by giving me this?”

“Bah,” Gelar spat. “What do I care for Ishita’s servants? As for the Power herself, she understands well enough that business is business.” His lips widened into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Besides, I’ve not done anything to help you escape her clutches. The spider goddess will not fault me for pursuing my own goals, not if they don’t harm her own.”

An unpleasant glint appeared in his eyes. “No matter how much gold you have in your pocket, you are still stuck in this sector. Now go!”